The Union has worked in Africa since 2006, providing grants and tobacco control technical support through the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use (BI) Grants Program.
The Union’s work in this region has led to major tobacco control policy achievements, including:
- With technical support from The Union, the Government of Chad adopted a 2019 draft decree to prevent tobacco industry interference in policy-making, in line with Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This important piece of legislation helps protect Chad’s people and economy from the damage caused by tobacco. Read more.
- The Union has supported the Ugandan Ministry of Health’s tobacco control efforts since 2012, helping to develop a national strategic plan for tobacco control and stricter tobacco control regulations. In 2015, The Ugandan Parliament passed a ground-breaking law aligning the country with the world’s strongest tobacco control policies and positioning it as a regional leader. The law secured some of the toughest restrictions on the distribution, sale and use of tobacco products in the region. Read more.
- In South Africa, The National Council against Smoking worked with the National Department of Health in developing and discussing with key stakeholders the reform of the Tobacco Products Control policy, which includes 100 percent smoke free indoor public places, plain packaging among other best buy Tobacco Control policies.
- The Union supported the establishment of the African Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research, in Pretoria (South Africa), an initiative launched by the WHO FCTC Secretariat. This observatory informs policy makers and governments with a view to prevent tobacco industry interference, thus contributing to the implementation of Article 5.3 by the Parties. Read More.